🚨 Deep Waters: Chris Weidman and Din Thomas question Tom Aspinall’s decision to have Eddie Hearn as his manager while dealing with Dana White and the UFC. “Why would you go to the enemy?” Din then added: “If I had a manager, I want Dana’s best friend.” Does Dana White always win these battles? 👀 #ufc #mma #boxing #danawhite #tomaspinall
Chris Weidman and Din Thomas have gone public with their skepticism about UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall's choice to have boxing promoter Eddie Hearn serve as his manager while navigating his career within the UFC.
The central concern, as Weidman framed it, is the optics of aligning with someone closely associated with a rival combat sports world. "Why would you go to the enemy?" was the pointed question he posed. Thomas echoed the sentiment with his own take, suggesting that if he were in Aspinall's position, he would want a manager with strong ties to Dana White rather than perceived friction with the UFC's leadership.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and carries a professional record of 15-3. The Englishman out of Team Kaobon stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the division, landing an eye-catching 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy. He also adds a takedown threat at 2.62 per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded and formidable champion. He currently sits sixth in the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings.
Weidman, the 42-year-old former UFC middleweight champion known as "The All-American," brings credibility to the conversation. Competing out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he holds a career record of 16-8 and has long been a respected voice within the sport.
Thomas, nicknamed "Dinyero," is a 49-year-old veteran with a 26-9 record and a coaching background at American Top Team, lending further weight to the pair's perspective on fighter management dynamics.
Why it matters
- Aspinall is the UFC heavyweight champion and a significant commercial asset, making his managerial choices a genuine point of leverage in any future contract discussions.
- Eddie Hearn's prominence in boxing creates questions about how his involvement might affect Aspinall's relationship with UFC leadership.
- The debate touches on a broader tension between fighter independence and the practical reality of negotiating within the UFC's ecosystem.
